New Years Eve 2008

In front of the temple with Chan's family

Ringing in the New Year: Otto loved this gong!

Taking a scenic walk down to the river

Rick and Chan demonstrating the gong that was being donated to the local temple

The scene of our village party

Setting up camp in this gorgeous field



New Years Day cock fighting!

This year we spent NYE in our friend Chanika's village 30 minutes north of Chiang Mai. Her family had organized a "tam boon" (alms-giving ceremony) at their local temple and there was a big village party at her sister's house. We showed up to loud karioke music and slightly-drunken old men encouraging us to dance with them. We brought our tents which we put up in a field outside the village. The panoramic views of the mountains were amazing and the weather was cold enough that it was nice to be snuggled in a sleeping bag. The afternoon was spent singing karioke, drinking and chatting with the villagers and holding random babies. After dinner, all the people at the party had a procession to the temple. There was a band made up of drums and gongs and all the women were dancing as we approached the temple. Once there, we saw a group of women doing traditional Thai dancing and we walked in a circle around the temple once. The monks said a blessing for the new year and then we all went back to the party. We ended up going to bed even before midnight but were woken up by the sound of all the fireworks in Chiang Mai. We opened the door of our tent and could see fireworks and the beautiful Thai lanterns lighting up the sky in all directions. It was so cozy and romantic...a wonderful way to start out the year! The next morning we had breakfast and were invited to watch a local cock fight. I never in my life thought I would see something like this, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I always had the impression that the roosters killed each other, but they don't and actually it isn't bloody at all. We didn't stay for the whole thing, but it was interesting to see the villagers betting on the roosters and getting into it. I'm sure, however, that i will never again attend such an event.